KitchenAid calls its new Artisan Plus Stand Mixer the biggest upgrade to the appliance since 1955. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the limited speed settings on the brand’s iconic mixers, you might agree. Not only does the new Artisan Plus introduce an additional half-speed setting for gently folding and incorporating ingredients like egg whites and berries, it also features a redesigned control lever for selecting an exact speed in-between its 11 presets.
The speed control lever is now capped with a knob on the end that can be rotated a quarter-turn to disengage the detents that normally limit its movements to jumping between the 11 presets. The alternate mode allows the lever to smoothly slide up and down the scale, unlocking precise speed adjustments for the mixing…